Even though gas prices are showing signs of relief, getting scammed at the pump is still a concern. By attaching a small device known as a “skimmer” to the credit card slot, thieves can steal 100′s of  card numbers from a pump.  Click here to watch this report by CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson and learn more about what to look out for to avoid getting ripped off.

CBS news reported that this illegal scam costs the financial industry more than $350,000 a day. The device appears to be a normal part of the actual card swiper and can be bought online for around $200.

When you search on Google for something you want to know more about, your search results reflect those sites that everyone on the internet has collectively decided are the most useful sites regarding that subject – right?  Wrong. Your search results are instead personalized for you, showing you what you are most likely to click on. Another person searching on the same term may very well get completely different search results.

At first glance, that might seem helpful, but truly what’s happening is that you are being isolated from information that may not fit your current beliefs and interests. These filters, based on your past habits, are making your world smaller and in the process promoting the polarization of society.

What the Internet Knows About You

We all know by now that Google collects a lot of information about us based on our conduct on the internet. So does Yahoo, Facebook, Amazon and, in fact, the top 50 sites on the internet. The extent to which this is happening, however, is not well known. For example, did you know that Google collects 57 different personal profiles of you every time you use it? What computer are you using? Where are you sitting? How long does it take you to pick a link? What link do you pick first? How long do you stay there? And on and on.

From this profile, Google (and Yahoo, Facebook, etc.) can start making determinations as to your likes and dislikes. That can sometimes be good. If you’re an outdoorsman looking for shoes, you won’t be shown a lot of links for female pumps. This kind of prediction can make shopping on the internet faster and more convenient for you, but what are you giving up in return?

“The Filter Bubble”

As Eli Pariser points out in his book, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding From You, the trend for personalized internet experiences has gone well beyond making shopping easier. The issue now has become not what the world knows about you, but instead, what you know about the world. Not just what you buy, but what facts you receive.

This is happening because sites like Google News, Yahoo News, The New York Times, and Facebook have taken it upon themselves to decide for you what news items you are probably most interested in. Are you a conservative who relishes reading about liberal scandals and mounting debts? Is your friend a liberal who loves finding out about Republican embarrassments and global climate change?  Your search results will be tailored to your likes, and each of you may well get different results in your search on the same subject.

Confirmation Bias

The result? Your conservative leanings will be reinforced by what you read, while your friend may likely become more radicalized. This is called “confirmation bias,” the natural tendency we all have to place greater value on information that agrees with our pre-existing beliefs, while discounting information that goes against those beliefs.

Your internet search results or the news you get from online sites like Yahoo News, will have invisibly been tailored to fit your profile. Information that questions your assumptions will be harder to find. Politically, you and your friend’s beliefs will be further polarized as you each receive a different set of “facts,” over and over again.

Facebook asks if you “like” what you have just read or seen, and uses that information to make predictions about what else you want to see. How many people do you think “like” a story about homelessness or the war in Afghanistan? Not many. Consequently, we can become isolated from these unpleasant, but important, topics.

Making Decisions For You

According to author Eli Paliser, Facebook even goes one step further.  He, a liberal, decided that since all of his friends were fellow liberals, he wanted to befriend some conservatives, so he could read more about their point of view. They agreed to be his “friend.”

Within a few months, he noticed that these friends had “disappeared” from his friends list.  When he asked those friends, it turns out, they had not “un-friended” him.  Rather, Facebook’s systems had decided that these people weren’t really his “friends,” so they were automatically deleted!  George Orwell, author of the dystopian novel 1984, would have understood why “Big Brother” would do this.

The “personalized” internet has some key results:

• it targets advertising to your tastes, not necessarily a bad thing;
• it targets the content of what you read about, a dangerous tendency;
• it makes decisions for you, such as the Facebook issue;

Your Own Universe

What can you do about it? Frankly, very little. If you don’t like sites like Google tracking what you click on, you’ll need to get a new computer and start afresh. Even then, though, Google will instantly know what kind of computer you bought, and the data collection will start all over again. Privacy laws are outdated, and there is little push in Congress to limit what commercial sites can do with the personal information you provide to them every time you use the internet.

The late Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said: “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” Increasingly, we are living in a world of our own facts, shaped for us according to our likes and dislikes.  Who thinks that’s a good idea?  Not me by a long shot.

True scam artists know that the best time to take advantage of someone is when they’re desperate; like when they’ve just locked their keys in their car.  An ever-increasing wave of dishonest locksmith activity has been spreading across the country, utilizing the tried and true “bait and switch” technique. For more information, click here to watch the story above by reporter Connie Thompson at KOMO TV in Seattle .

Here’s an example:  in Seattle recently, a woman was quoted a fee of $39.95 over the phone to get her car unlocked, but ended up being charged $175 after the job was done.  Another victim was told it would cost as little as $19 for the job, only to have her keys held hostage until they paid nearly six times that amount.

The problem is, you don’t think about needing such a service until after an unfortunate lock-out, so you desperately call the first locksmith you find.  To keep from falling into this trap , make sure to seek out a local, reputable locksmith, and keep his number with you.

If you need help, AAA will provide you with their own list of trustworthy locksmiths.

Have you ever wanted to buy one of those precious, gotta-have, collector’s items?  You know.  The kind that advertise: “First one free!! No obligation!!”?  Well, before you do, click here to watch CWN’s Terry Smiljanich explain why you should be careful.

These special offers are not so free from cost and obligations, after all, despite the advertising. Don’t be fooled. Before you know it, you might be inundated by more costly, little trinkets than you know what to do with. Watch Terry’s advice in the video below to hear more about the real deal with these “special offers.”

The Mesmerizing Deal

We get it. You see the ad and it’s pretty eye-catching.  That lovely little ornament decorated with your favorite sports team or your favorite pet.  Whatever it is, you just gotta have it.  And hey, the “1st one’s free!”  So, you’ll get the free one and won’t order anymore, right? Not so fast.

There’s a little thing called a “continuity plan” that automatically signs you up for more ornaments, like a book of the month club.  Only problem is, no one told you that you were signing up!

What to do?

With “continuity plans,” you will continue to receive these trinkets without warning, at a high cost, so if you decide you really want one of the “collectors items” for sale, know what you’re getting into.  Here are some tips to follow:

• Read carefully all of the paperwork you receive to see what hidden obligations you might be agreeing to.
• Save the material in case you run into a problem.
• Complain to the company.
• Complain to FTC if the company is violating the terms of its contract.

The U.S. Postal Service has recently reported that some customers are receiving bogus emails about a package delivery.

The subject line reads : “USPS Delivery Failure Notification,” and the message claims that the USPS has attempted to deliver a package.

To receive the package , customers are instructed to click on the link provided , but what they receive is a virus that collects personal information like usernames, passwords and financial records.

Adding insult to injury, there is no package waiting for them.

Scam Casts Wide Net

Since everyone in the country is a customer of the postal service, this new scam is more clever than previous ones. In the past, imposters would claim to be representatives from the customer’s bank or credit union, but if the recipient didn’t use that particular institution, the jig was up.

Steve Stebbins, with the Postal Inspection Service says, “Right now, our federal agents are working with the IT folks at the Postal Service in an attempt to track down the source of these scammers.”

What to do?

If you receive a questionable e-mail, either delete it immediately, or check with the Postal Service to make sure it’s authentic. There is also a toll-free number you can call (1-800-ASK-UPS)  , or you can email them at spam@uspis.gov to request assistance.

Most importantly, keep in mind that the internet is a swindler’s playground, and today’s technology makes it possible for anyone to re-create a company’s logo or design, and pose as a legitimate representative. So be careful, and always err on the side of caution, or else you might receive an unwanted special delivery.

With Mother’s day right around the corner , it’s time to show mom your appreciation. Flowers have always been one of the most popular gifts for the occasion, but what’s the best way to get them? Is it cheaper to order on-line or get them from a local florist? Roses are an excellent choice , but watch out for the thorns…like expense , hassle with ordering and timely delivery.

Watch the video above to see Angie Moreschi put the options to the test, in this popular CWN story comparing ProFlowers, 1-800-Flowers, Teleflora and a local florist.  Click here for more detailed information on the comparison.

Gifts Other Than Flowers

If you’re looking for something other than flowers to give as a gift, be sure to do your research before sending one of those fresh fruit packages by Edible Arrangements.  They caused so much indigestion for Angie that she wrote this piece for “Where’s the Outrage.”

Complain if You’re Not Satisfied

Lastly, more than anything, remember to stand up and complain if you are dissatisfied.  This is tough, but even if it means telling your loved one that your gift was a bust, it is important to do so. Otherwise, they will never know they wasted their money and may use the company again.

Are you an electronic gadget junkie? If so, then you most likely have experienced the frustration of keeping up with the latest technology. Constantly upgrading your iPad , iPod and iPhone can make you i-Broke!  Luckily, now there are several buy back companies willing to pay you cash for your slightly-outdated toys.  Click here to watch the story above by reporter Nydia Han of WPVI-TV  for some tips on who will give you the best price for your used gadgets.

Buying a used car has always been a risky business. Today more than ever, consumers can’t afford to take a chance on buying a lemon, and it may turn out that the used car you are looking at is more used than you might think.

A vehicle that appears to be in good shape, might be hiding a history of damages, and if you know where to look you can spot the telltale signs before getting swindled.

Here’s a list of the top 10 things to look for, according to a story on ConsumerReports.org:

1. Paint that chips off or doesn’t match indicates damage repair and poor blending.

2. Paint over-spray on chrome, trim, or rubber seals around body openings reveals that the adjacent panel was repaired.

3. Misaligned fenders suggest a poor repair job or use of non original equipment manufacturer (non-OEM) parts.

4. CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association) sticker on any part may indicate collision repair.

5. Uneven tread wear reveals wheel misalignment, possibly because of frame damage.

6. Mold or air freshener cover-up suggests water damage from a leak or flood.

7. Silt in trunk may mean flood damage.

8. Fresh undercoating on wheel wells, chassis, or engine strongly suggests recent structural repairs covered up.

9. Door that doesn’t close correctly could point to a door-frame deformation and poor repair.

10. Hood or trunk that doesn’t close squarely may indicate twisting from side impact.

An inspection by a certified, trustworthy mechanic is always the best defense , but you can save yourself the trouble if you are well -informed and privy to the warning signs of a rebuilt wreck.

Imagine filling out a job application and coming across the following demand: “Please provide your Facebook username and password,” or “Please accept Human Resources Director Jane Smith as a ‘friend’ on Facebook.”

The ever-growing presence of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter has influenced corporations, as well as college admissions to boldly request such information.

If that sounds a bit invasive to you,  Congressman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) would agree. That’s why he recently introduced a bill to Congress called the Social Networking Online Protection Act, or SNOPA.

Legislation would ban requirement

The legislation would ban employers from requiring that employees or job candidates share social networking passwords. It would also ban post-secondary schools from disciplining students for failing to provide such access or from discriminating against applicants who refuse to provide such access.

Maryland passed a similar bill last month making the practice illegal; Engel is now introducing it on the national level.

But the legislation has a long way to go, and most likely needs similar bills to pass at the state level before gaining enough strength to pass as a national act.

What to do if it happens to you?

If this effort is a little too late , and you’ve already relinquished the precious key to your Facebook privacy, don’t worry…there is an answer.

If you provided your password, of course, you can always change it later, to prevent further access. If you were forced to ‘friend ‘ a supervisor, you can take action to limit their access.

Facebook offers you the opportunity to limit your audience for all future posts, allowing you to keep someone from seeing your activity without dropping them as a friend.

Go to your privacy settings page, and under “control your default privacy”, click on “custom.”

On the tab marked “hide this from,”  just type in the friend’s name you wish to block and then click on “save changes”.

It’s that easy. Your so-called friend will be none the wiser.

To them, it will appear that you’ve just been inactive.  Meanwhile, you’ll still be able to share all your comic musings about American Idol and the pictures of the lasagna you’re eating for dinner with all of your real friends.

Consumers are always searching for something other than flowers to give as a gift, especially with holidays like Mother’s Day here.  If you’re thinking of sending something from Edible Arrangements, the company that sends fresh fruit packages, be sure to do your research, first, or you could end up with indigestion.

I recently experienced some of the worst customer service I’ve seen in a long time from a Tampa store. While one bad experience, may not be conclusive, a quick internet search of “Edible Arrangements Complaints,” bares out the fact that I was not alone.

A family member wanted to send me a nice Mother’s Day gift and ordered a package from Edible Arrangements.  She lives in Pittsburgh and called her local store, which then sent the order to a store here in Tampa, to be filled and delivered.  Apparently, that seemingly simple process fell apart when the Tampa store failed to follow the simple guideline of “calling first” before trying to deliver.

Calling First – Too Much Trouble

Twice, the company tried to deliver to my home during the middle of the day, when, of course, I am at work.  They never called the contact number provided to arrange a location or time.  Finally, on the third day, they called. I told them I would be home after 5:30pm, which remarkably, prompted the delivery coordinator to snap at me for their wasted time.  He barked that he’d already tried to deliver twice, and that they “can’t guarantee what time we deliver.” I suggested that they should not promise customers they can deliver if they can’t accommodate delivery at a later time or to a different location.

Speak Up When the Gift goes Bust

It kind of digressed from there, but in the end, I told them to cancel the order.  They did not deserve my relative’s business.  I had to call and tell her how much I appreciated the gesture, but that it wasn’t worth the aggravation the company was causing. As hard as that is to do, consumers do need to stand up and tell a loved one when a gift turns out to be a bust.  Otherwise, they will never know they wasted their money and may use the company again.

Unfortunately, the old adage holds true all too often.  “No good deed goes unpunished,” especially with the epidemic of poor customer service in society today.  But I must say, Edible Arrangements in Tampa, takes the cake… or the fruit.. as it may be… for being obnoxious and discourteous to a customer.